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Description

Designed by the city firm J Rex Roberts & Partners, the first stage (overlooking the Square) of the seven-storey Colonial Mutual Life Building opened in late July 1978. The second stage (adjoining Cuba Street) was then still under construction. Brian Elliott, a partner with the designing architects, said its design was “somewhat revolutionary. The sheer wall and frame construction structure was designed to relate to the Square and was set back from Rangitikei Street to give a vista to the Square for people moving along Rangitikei Street.”

Renamed Westside Buildings, by 2003 this building and the nine storey former Commercial Union building opposite were being converted into accommodation for international students. Branded “@theHUB”, this building became ‘The Hub West’. The Hub West’ was nearly complete by April 2004. In 2012, this building was described as having 62 rooms, of which 50 had their own bathroom facilities. The third floor, however, was occupied by Radioworks.

Identification

Object type
Image
Relation
IMCA Digital Archive
Date
June 2020
Digitisation ID
2020BD_IMCA-DigitalMaster_031931
Format
Born Digital

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Taxonomy

Tags
2020s,
architects,
architecture,
buildings,
the square,
Community Tags

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Related items

45-51 The Square – the Grand Building, former Grand Hotel
161-163 The Square – Mowlem Buildings (a.k.a. ‘Bares Buildings’)
36 The Square – ‘Childs’ building’, now Lone Star Café & Bar
Ladies’ Rest Room, The Square
1-3 The Square – former Union Bank of Australia/ANZ Chambers
4-11 The Square – CM Ross Co. Building, now the Palmerston North City Library
476-482 Main Street - The Square Centre, former Public Library
126-136 The Square – Former Palmerston North Chief Post Office
149-152 The Square – Westside Chambers, former ‘M.L.C. Building’
Palmerston North Civic Administration Building, The Square
85-88 the Square - Bryants Building
141 The Square – Imperial Chambers